Mark stared at the photograph for a long time before opening the letter.
As he read it, his eyes filled with tears.
“What does it say?”
He didn’t answer.
I took the letter.
Tyler had written that he had recently learned the details of his adoption. For years, he had been told that his biological father hadn’t wanted him. But after finding Mark’s name in some old documents, he had started searching for him.
At the end, he had written only one question.
Did you really not want me?
Mark sat down.
His shoulders began to shake.
“He’s spent his whole life thinking I didn’t want him.”
Helen walked toward him.
“Mark, I’m sorry.”
Mark didn’t look at his mother.
“You’re apologizing for seventeen years.”
At that moment, Luke began to cry.
Mark picked him up and stared at his face for a long time.
Then he did something I hadn’t expected.
He took out his phone and dialed the number written at the bottom of Tyler’s letter.
Helen and I watched silently.
A few rings.
Then a young man answered.
“Hello?”
Mark’s lips trembled.
“Tyler?”
There was a long silence.
“Yes.”
Mark closed his eyes.
“I’m Mark.”
Silence again.
Then the boy asked:
“Are you really my father?”
Tears rolled down Mark’s face.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you ever look for me?”
That question broke him.
“Because they told me you were dead.”
Tyler said nothing.
A few seconds later, we heard his shaky breathing through the phone.
“I spent my whole life thinking you didn’t want me.”
Mark held Luke tighter.
“I wanted you every single day.”
